Selected Headlines

Press Roundup provides a selected summary of news from the Iranian press, and excerpts where the source is in English. Click on the link to the story to read it in full. Tehran Bureau has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Please refer to the Media Guide to help put the stories in perspective. You can follow other news stories through our Twitter feed.

Khabar Online | Uskowi | July 22, 2010

President Ahmadinejad's Advisor on Religious Affairs, Hojattoleslam Mohammad Nasser Saghay Biria, resigned in protest of Ahmadinejad's view that the Islamic Republic's requirements for the Hejab and Islamic dress are too strict.

Saghay Biria is a disciple of Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, and a day before resigning his post, Saghay had an extensive meeting in Qom with Mesbah. Saghay's resignation and Mesbah's potential role in it are bound to put stress on Ahmadinjad's relationship with his mentor.

Police Chief Denies Existence of Cross Border Energy Smuggling

Khabar Online | July 22, 2010

Iran's police chief Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam has declared that there is no smuggling of gas and oil across Iran's borders. He said that "right now the police can apply the law at all of the country's borders." He added that "we have not had any gasoline smuggling since the beginning of gasoline rationing because its price in other countries is like that in Iran and now people do not have a need to smuggle gasoline."

Five Peoples Arms Amputated in Iran

BBC Persian | July 22, 2010

Five people were convicted of robbery in the western Iranian province of Hamdan and sentenced to amputation. According the district prosecutor for Hamadan the penalty was implemented on Thursday July 22, in the central prison and carried out "for the purpose" of "educating others."

Iranian Labor Activist Released From Prison

RFE/RL | July 22, 2010

A spokesman for Tehran's municipal bus-service union has been released from prison on bail. Said Torabian, who had been held at Rajaee Shahr prison in Karaj, west of Tehran, was released on July 20. He was detained by authorities on June 9.

His release comes days after the Tehran bus drivers' union issued a statement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Torabian and three other bus drivers' union leaders: Reza Shahabi, Ebrahim Madadi, and Mansur Osanlu.

Govt. rejects Majlis decision on $2b allocation for subway projects

Mehr | July 21, 2010

Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs Mohammad-Reza Mir-Tajeddini has said that the administration will not abide by the Majlis decision that calls for the withdrawal of $2 billion from the Oil Stabilization Fund for the development of subways. The administration will not comply with the Majlis decision because it would impose financial burdens on the government, Mir-Tajeddini said on Wednesday.

According to the Constitution, Majlis decisions that impose financial burdens on the government can only be implemented after the parliament and the administration reach an agreement, he explained.

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